Governor Abdullahi Sule has announced that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has agreed to zone the 2027 governorship seat in Nasarawa State to the Nasarawa West Senatorial District.
He also disclosed that the party would adopt a direct primary election for the governorship and other elective positions ahead of the polls.
Mr Sule made the announcement while addressing journalists after a marathon meeting he convened with key stakeholders, including the deputy governor, governorship aspirants, members of the National Assembly, a minister, and heads of federal agencies and parastatals from the state.
According to the governor, the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to openly express their views on how the party should navigate the primary election season while maintaining unity within the APC.
“We have very strong aspirants, most of whom have held top positions in this country, some of them still holding positions,” he said.
“These are people we have to treat with respect. We have to remind them about the importance of working together to conclude this exercise.”
Sule noted that the majority of participants at the meeting supported the adoption of direct primaries.
He added that the decision aligns with the stance of Bola Tinubu, who he said has consistently advocated for direct primaries as a means of giving party members a greater say in choosing candidates.
The governor assured that the process would be transparent and in full compliance with the APC constitution and the Electoral Act, leaving no room for disputes.
He urged aspirants to accept the outcome of the primaries in good faith, warning that any defection after a credible process would reflect an inability to accept defeat.
“Nobody, nobody whatsoever will have any excuse to leave the party, because we are going to have a very transparent, very democratic process in line with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act,” he said.
“So the person who leaves after losing is leaving because he does not know how to lose.”
On zoning, Mr Sule said the issue was extensively discussed at the meeting, stressing that his position is rooted in fairness and unity among the state’s three senatorial districts.
“I keep insisting, and I stand by that, in line with the spirit of brotherhood, let us take it to Keffi zone, which has not produced a governor for 20 years,” he added.
